LETTER: Presidential greatness is still possible

In response to the Jan. 7 letter, “Fix presidency to gain better leadership,” Mr. Marc Gaffrey has some worthwhile suggestions, but putting them into practice does not seem likely to happen. I doubt there is any widespread fervor to undertake the enormous effort involved.

What we do need is to find some men, or one man, who does have the “Appropriate Background and Experience” and further, the honesty, the combination of intelligence and common sense, the integrity, the vision, and most important the will to do what’s right. Let that man look back at at those presidents who helped make this country great, and at those who did not.

Start with George Washington, who had a vision of how this new nation should be formed, had the will and experience to guide it. Go on to Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson, who had the vision to expand and develop its potential. To James K. Polk, who fought to save the border with Mexico. Will there ever be another as great as Abraham Lincoln, who through his vision and will made us one nation and one that included people of all races?

We had Theodore Roosevelt, our first environmentalist, and then the other Roosevelt, FDR, undoubtedly one of the three greatest Presidents along with Washington and Lincoln. Again, a man of vision, and a man of heart, he put in place many of the programs we now take for granted. Many underestimated Harry Truman, but he proved to be a man of his word as well as a skillful politician who not only made the tough decision to use the atomic weapon to end the war, but oversaw the democratic development in Europe. His successor, Dwight Eisenhower didn’t make big headlines, but gave us eight years of peaceful development, including establishing the national highway system. Even Richard Nixon, despite his ignominious fall from power, was a genius in foreign relations and laid the groundwork for dealing with China and Russia. Lyndon Johnson had his other side, but his vision of the War on Poverty and groundwork on civil rights furthered our growth.

Of our more recent rresidents, we need more time to form a view of their achievements, or lack thereof. Gerald Ford, the accidental president, left nothing of note. Jimmy Carter’s best moments came after he left office. Ronald Reagan had a vision, was a true gentleman, great communicator, but it’s too soon to see his place in history. Bill Clinton, though charming, will best be remembered for the Oval Office scandal and his impeachment. Opinions will vary on the two Bushes. No bad publicity on 41, but except for the Gulf War, he’ will be remembered for “Read my lips”. On 43, he achieved extremely high ratings after 9/11, but got mired down in an ill-advised war.

Our current president should be a prime example of the importance of choosing someone with “Appropriate Background and Experience” and choosing someone who like Lincoln should concentrate on uniting, not dividing.

There are many in this country who are not discerning voters, many who are uncaring voters, but we cannot have survived until 2015 unless we have had those thinking and caring citizens who make the right choices. There are enough of us who rise above the dirty side of politics to do our homework and in the end can elect the “right” person. At least let’s hope so.